Saalumarada Thimmakka

Saalumarada Thimmakka (died 14 November 2025), also known as Aala Marada Thimmakka, was an Indian environmentalist from the state of Karnataka, noted for her work in planting and tending to 385 banyan trees along a stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur, Ramanagara district. She also planted nearly 8000 other trees.

She received no formal education and worked as a casual labourer in a nearby quarry. Her work has been honoured with the National Citizen's Award of India. Her work was recognised by the Government of India and she was conferred with Padma Shri in 2019.

A US environmental organisation based in Los Angeles and Oakland, California called Thimmakka's Resources for Environmental Education is named after her. Central University of Karnataka announced an honorary doctorate for Thimmakka in the year 2020.

Thimmakka died in Bengaluru on 14 November 2025, at the claimed age of 114.

Early life Thimmakka was said to have been born on 30 June 1911 (although some sources have claimed she was born around 1928 ), in Gubbi Taluk of Kingdom of Mysore, presently in Tumakuru district of Karnataka. She was married to Chikkaiah, a native of Hulikal village in the Magadi taluk of Ramanagara district in Karnataka. She received no formal education and worked as a casual labourer in a nearby quarry. The couple could not have children. It is said that Thimmakka started to plant banyan trees in lieu of children. The name word Saalumarada (row of trees in the Kannada language) is how she is referred to because of her work. Thimmakka had a foster son named Umesh.

Achievement Ficus (banyan) trees were aplenty near Thimmakka's village. Thimakka and her husband started grafting saplings from these trees. Ten saplings were grafted in the first year and they were planted along a distance of 5km near the neighbouring village of Kudur. 15 saplings were planted in the second year and 20 in the third year. She used her meagre resources for planting these trees.

Later activity

Thimmakka's husband died in 1991. Thimmakka was invited to many afforestation programs in India. She underwent a hip surgery in December 2020 and was announced to be successful.

BBC recognition

In 2016, Saalumarada Thimmakka was listed by the British Broadcasting Corporation as one of the most influential and inspirational women of the world.

Alleged misuse of name Delhi-settled comedian, Ritu Vasu Primlani has been accused by Thimmakka of misusing her name. Thimmakka filed a private complaint before the Ramanagara Judicial Magistrate First Class (JFMC) court on 9 May against a non-resident Indian, Ritu Primlani, for running the organisation named after her for at least 14 years without her consent or knowledge.

Primlani had started the non-profit organisation more than a decade prior to the allegations. Thimmakka's adopted son, Umesh has claimed that the organisation misuses her name to collect donations. Primlani had visited Thimmakka back in 2003 where photos were taken of her gifting Thimmakka with a saree. Now she is said to have allegedly taken Thimmakka's fingerprints, while she says Thimmakka okayed the non-profit back then in front of a judge.

Following the complaint, a policeman arrived at Alliance Française and Jagriti in Bangalore, venues where Primlani was performing her shows, to take her into custody. Ms Primlani claimed that she was taken into custody by a male policeman, after dark, which is against the law. She said that a dozen policemen had arrived at the venue though they did not disrupt her show. She claimed to be harassed by Thimmakka's lawyers with written threats, which is an indication of extortion.

Illness and death Thimmakka was suffering from breathing problems and other age related issues lately, for which she was hospitalised multiple times. She died on 14 November 2025, at the claimed age of 114.

Awards

For her achievement, Thimmakka was conferred with the following awards and citations: Padma Shri Saalumarada Thimmakka. The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Padma Shri Award to Saalumarada Thimmakka, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 16 March 2019

Padma Shri award - 2019 Nadoja Award By Hampi University - 2010 National Citizen's award - 1995 Vishalakshi Award by Art of Living Organisation Vishwathma Award by Hoovinahole Foundation - 2015 One of BBC's 100 Women in 2016 Honoured with She's Divine Award by I and You Being Together Foundation 2017 Parisara Rathana award Green champion award Vrikshamatha award